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Cystinosis is a type of lysosomal disorder. Lysosomes are one of the organelles of the cells. The disease is caused by defect in the lysosomal transport mechanism for cystine. Cystine is a disulfide dimer of cysteine amino acid. Due to defect in the lysosomal membrane transport protein, cystine cannot come out of the cells. Within the cells cystine accumulates, crystallizes and forms cell damage and apoptosis. This mainly affects the kidneys and eyes. There are three clinical forms of cystinosis. Those are Infantile or nephropathic, Juvenile or adolescent and ocular or benign form of cystinosis.
Nephropathic cystinosis is the most common form of cystinosis that occur in the children. Children with nephropathic cystinosis may appear normal at birth. But most children have blond hair, blue eyes and very fair complexion. Beginning the treatment just after the birth can attenuate the renal failure. However, if the kidney glomerular damage is already present, it is irreversible and kidney transplantation may be required. The diagnostic characteristics of cystinosis depends on the detection of Fanconi’s syndrome, growth retardation within one year of age and progressive worsening of kidney function.Cystinosis is treated by administration of drug cysteamine (Cystagon®). This is the only drug available at present. This drug should be administered every six hours for life time. This drug has unpleasant smell and taste. The side effects include vomiting, nausea, gastrointestinal irritation, bad breath.
Ref: Design, Synthesis and Initial In Vitro Evaluation of Novel Prodrugs for the Treatment of Cystinosis, Letters in Drug Design & Discovery, Volume 3, Number 5, July 2006 , pp. 336-345(10)
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Osteoporosis is a disease of bones in which bones become less dense and fragile. Untreated osteoporosis can lead to bone fractures and broken bones. Bones at the hip joint, wrist, and spine are commonly affected. Osteoporosis can be treated and prevented. It is commonly seen in elder and old age people and it increases with age. The very first sign of osteoporosis is an unexpected fracture at normal or at small accident. Until diagnosed, most of the times, osteoporosis is asymptomatic due to progressive loss of bone density without pain.In normal healthy persons, small quantities of bone minerals are daily removed from bones and at the same time small amounts of minerals are deposited. The process of removal of minerals is called resorption and deposition is called absorption or formation. In people with osteoporosis, the balance shifts towards resorption. Therefore bones become weak, fragile and prone to broken bones. If poor bone density is achieved during the growth and development, the bone loss is accelerated in old age after peak bone mass is achieved. Above conditions are influenced by genetic predisposition, hereditary, diet and habitual factors.Old people and adults may require vitamin supplements along with proper calcium containing diet. It is important to consult physician and check for bone strength and calcium requirement. Your doctor may suggest calcium supplement and other medications based on the condition of bone strength.
Prostate cancer is the second most form of cancer in men that affects prostate gland. Prostate gland presents in the male reproductive system. It is located just below the bladder. Prostate cancer comes mostly in older people and it is absent in women.
The important function of prostate gland is to work as a reservoir for seminal fluid that nourishes the sperm. The prostate gland can be affected by inflammation of the gland caused by infections known as prostatitis, enlarged prostate gland (BPH-Benign prostatic hyperplasia) and/ or cancerous growth of the prostate gland (prostate cancer). The symptoms of all three of them are same. Therefore, having symptoms could be BPH or may be due to cancer. As soon as you find the symptoms, you should consult your doctor for testing. Symptoms of all three of them includes, difficulty in urinating, urinating often in nights, pain while urinating, erectile problems, blood in the urine, pain in the lower back, hip joints and blood in the semen.
Regular exercise and healthy diet with fruits and vegetables could prevent from getting prostate related health problems. Fruits that come under the berry family like blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, red raspberry, and strawberry contains wide range of diverse phytochemicals. These phytochemical extracts have been tested in in vitro (in the lab, in cell cultures) cancerous cells and received positive results. The effects of cranberry juice in the prevention of prostate caner are also well documented.
Ref: Prostate Cancer Immunology: Biology, Therapeutics, and Challenges, Journal of clinical oncology; 2005; 23: 8262-8269.
Blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry, and strawberry extracts inhibit growth and stimulate apoptosis of human cancer cells in vitro, J Agric Food Chem.2006 Dec 13;54(25):9329-39
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Tips
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Many infectious diseases are transmitted through unclean and unwashed hands
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Cold, influenza, hepatitis A, E.coli, conjunctivitis, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are some of the many infectious diseases those can transfer from unwashed hands.
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Keep habit of cleaning your hands with soap and water (before eating, after handling soil, garbage, after going to rest room).
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